Construction is scheduled to begin in the next week to add a cafe to the Tops market on East Genesee Street in DeWitt.

The town of DeWitt approved plans for the café addition, said Richard Robb, DeWitt’s commissioner of building, planning and zoning. "We believe it will be a nice addition to the store," he said.

The 400-square-foot addition — which will seat 30 to 40 people — will be built on the East Genesee Street side of the building, where the deli is currently located and extending into the parking lot, Robb said.

Bart Coleman, director of real estate for Tops, said although construction is expected to begin soon, the café probably won’t be ready to open until spring due to weather conditions. The design of the café is still being worked out, he said.

"We think it will really enhance that store, and be a gathering place for people in the town," he said.

A new roof has been just installed on the East Genesee Street store.
The Nottingham Road store also is getting improvements, including a $2 million overhaul, Coleman said.

In January, Buffalo-based Tops Markets acquired the assets of the defunct Syracuse-based The Penn Traffic Co. and this fall 20 former P&C supermarkets in Central New York officially became Tops stores. In all, Tops bought 79 Penn Traffic grocery stores in New York and Pennsylvania and kept 48. Tops had 71 stores before the acquisition.

Tops plans to spend $40 million upgrading the stores next year, and has already upgraded the Manlius store.